𝐈𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 (English)

Chapter 65

Ozpin gave Jaune the night to recover and the morning to spend with his teammates and friends and assure everyone he was okay before he was eventually summoned to discuss what happened. Though he was now Oswald, a huntsman in his mid-twenties, Jaune found he couldn't stop thinking of the man as Ozpin.

Though everyone else just thought of him as "that bastard" after his brutal combat lessons.

Once he was inside the office, Jaune wasted no time. "Salem is real."

Ozpin steepled his fingers. "Indeed."

"I didn't believe it."

"I don't blame you. Immortals, gods, curses – you'd be a fool to think any of those are real. But reality is sometimes stranger than fiction, or so they say. Qrow tells me you saw her in Cinder's dream, and that you gleaned a fraction of their plans...?"

It was worded as an invitation but Jaune knew better. Though he'd initially promised to keep the subjects of dreams a secret, he considered this an exception. Criminals and genocidal, world-ending threats didn't get the same protections. He told Ozpin everything, up to and including his "deal" with Mercury that should have by now seen the boy abandon Cinder's faction. He wouldn't be joining theirs, but Jaune wouldn't have trusted someone with such flexible allegiance anyway.

"So, Salem plans to use your Semblance to her advantage. I suppose that's a direct response to my new ascension." Ozpin chuckled. "You really have upset the status quo in returning me to my previous power. Decades, perhaps even centuries, of Salem's plans thrown out the window."

"Should I apologise?"

"Not to me, Mr Arc. I'm rather thrilled. And given Cinder's alleged plans to destroy Beacon, I imagine you're happy as well."

"Less so that Cinder and Salem both want to fight over me."

Ozpin leaned back. "True. On the other hand, your quick thinking has them fighting one another. Good work there."

It was hard to take the compliment as it was intended. He hadn't really planned for how to deal with Cinder, and her dream had provided the ammunition. All he did was jump on it. As such, it felt more that he'd been adaptable and quick to react, rather than a genius. Good traits all the same, but he couldn't really accept that he'd been a strategic mastermind for it.

"Obviously, we shall protect you as best we can," continued Ozpin. "Not only for your strategic value but because we will protect any and all students. And while it's not ideal Cinder wishes to take you, it's perhaps better than her wishing you dead. The same for Salem. Killing you would be much easier than capturing you."

"I guess. Did Qrow find anything of Tyrian and Hazel?"

"Both dead."

"You don't sound thrilled about that, sir."

"I suppose I'm not." Ozpin let out a heavy sigh. "Though I didn't know Tyrian, looking into our files shows failures on my part with regards to Hazel. His sister died under my care and her wishes for him to be looked after were ignored by unscrupulous insurance firms. I feel responsible to some degree though, it should be noted, his sister died to Salem, so I'm not sure why Hazel would have joined her."

"He wanted you dead."

"No, I get that part. I just don't know why he didn't want us both dead. Not that it matters now. I hope he finds some peace in the afterlife. Back to you," he said, "I'd like to ask you to work on refining your Semblance, which I know you're already doing your best with."

"I'm trying but... I get the feeling you're asking something more. You want me to do something to Salem. Don't you?"

"Eventually. Not now, and not anytime soon if I can help it, but your Semblance has proven capable of rewriting the laws of reality. I'm not sure if it could undo the curse of a god, or if that would even be wise – if they might take vengeance on you for it – but even if you can weaken her or cut away at her power to control Grimm – which the gods did not grant her – that could change everything."